Make it three quarterbacks that have been drafted before Shedeur Sanders.
After Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft came and went with the Colorado quarterback not hearing his name called, Sanders' wait continued into Friday night.
Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart were selected in the first round over Sanders. Now, he's been passed up for Tyler Shough out of Louisville, who was taken by the Saints.
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Here's what to know about the New Orleans taking Shough over Sanders in the second round.
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Why was Tyler Shough drafted before Shedeur Sanders?
Shough was taken with the 40th overall pick in the second round by New Orleans. Although it may have been shocking to hear a few months ago, Shough going over Sanders grew into less of a surprise as the second round approached based on the chatter around the league.
Scouts and insiders began to project Dart and Shough as the potential QB2 and QB3 in the class over Sanders in the weeks leading into the draft. Coming into the second round, insider Albert Breer reported that he "wouldn't be stunned" if Shough or even Jalen Milroe went over Sanders, whose fall continued.
Insiders like Ian Rapoport, Jordan Schultz, and Adam Schefter all indicated entering Round 2 that Shough could be the first quarterback off the board.
When it comes to why Shough could have a better draft case than Sanders, it likely comes down to his arm. Sanders isn't quite known for having a big arm or standout athleticism, while Shough has "a live arm who is capable of making pro throws both intermediate and deep," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote in his draft profile.
Shough is also heavily experienced, coming into the league at 25 years old after spending time at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville. He'll now head to New Orleans, giving new head coach Kellen Moore a younger option at quarterback if Derek Carr can't play amid injuries.
As a pure passer, there's a case to be made that Shough's ceiling is higher than Sanders, who's more known for his poise and accuracy. Ultimately, the Saints, originally a potential landing spot for Sanders, felt that Shough's upside was strong enough to use its second-round pick on him over a flashier pick like the Colorado passer.
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Shedeur Sanders vs. Tyler Shough stats
Here's a look at how Shough and Sanders compared in 2024, by their numbers:
| Tyler Shough | Stat | Shedeur Sanders |
| 12 | Starts | 13 |
| 62.7% | Comp. rate | 74.0% |
| 3,195 | Yards | 4,134 |
| 23 | TD | 37 |
| 6 | INT | 10 |
| 8.2 | Yards per att. | 8.7 |
| 19 | Rush yards | -50 |
| 1 | Rush TD | 4 |
Sanders played in one more game than Shough, and he also registered better numbers in most per-game stats as well, such as completion rate and yards per attempt.
Louisville went 8-4 behind Shough, who didn't play in his team's bowl game. Sanders led Colorado to a 9-4 record.
In all likelihood, New Orleans' pick wasn't about the straight numbers, but rather the ceiling they believe Shough has in the NFL.
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